Corruptive

Chapter 10 – Overstepping the Border

Disclaimer – I don't own any of the recognisable characters in this story.

Last Chapter – "What's going on, Draco?" Hermione asked in a quiet voice. Draco's eyes flickered up to hers.

"It's not my right to say," Draco stated simply.

"Then whose right is it?" Hermione asked.

"Get dressed and I'll take you straight to them," Draco muttered, looking deep in thought as he quietly left the room.

Hermione sat there in shock, staring at the door Draco had just left through. So much she had not anticipated had occurred in the last five minutes. She'd had a flashback with Draco in it, the pendant had something to do with bringing that on, Draco knew what it all meant and he had left the room to allow her to change – without argue.

Hermione sighed. An abrupt ache in her stomach caused her features to suddenly distort in pain. She felt sick; nauseous. Why was Draco in that flashback? And what was that flashback! Had she known him when she was younger? And who was that familiar-looking woman?

"It's not my right to say," Draco stated simply.

"Then whose right is it?" Hermione asked.

"Get dressed and I'll take you straight to them."

Hermione realised that the only way she was going to find out what the flashback meant was to quickly get dressed and follow Draco. She looked around the room finding her clothes scattered around herself on the floor. The stone was cold on her legs; there was no carpet in this room.

As she gathered up her clothes, she realised that Draco must have caught her when she fell into unconsciousness. For once in a while, she had awoken and a part of her wasn't hurting. Even the burning sensation from the pendant before she fainted wasn't hurting. Hermione was very surprised to see that it hadn't even left a mark. It had felt as though it was on fire earlier. The pain had been enough to knock her into unconsciousness, forcing her into a flashback she didn't recall even happening.

Hermione quickly stripped off her tracksuit pants and tank-top, replacing them with the nice black pants and rose top Draco had provided for her. Looking around she found a pair of black shoes and a pair of gloves. She put these on as well. Finally she placed the jacket over her shoulders, completing the outfit. It was very warm, which was good as Malfoy Manor was absolutely freezing.

Hermione spent no time hesitating as she left the room. She found Draco on the other side leaning against the wall. He looked up at her as she opened the door, looking very impatient.

"Just a tip – Never keep a Malfoy waiting."

Obviously he was still sore from before. Hermione rolled her eyes behind Draco's back as he turned to walk up the corridor. She didn't want to upset him more than he already was but couldn't help wanting to throw things at the back of his head. Hermione didn't understand why he was so angry with her. What had she done wrong? It wasn't as though she had stolen the pendant: Maria had given it to her. And how was that her fault?

Grudgingly she followed him through the cold hallway of Malfoy Manor. Her breath rose in a mist before her; it was as though she was outside, it was that cold. She rubbed her hands together; very glad she found those gloves and tightened her jacket around her. Biting her lip in anticipation and holding her shoulders back, Hermione followed Draco with a sense of foreboding in the back of her mind.

Sure, Hermione couldn't wait to meet her parents, but dark things crept up from the back of her mind. If they were such good people, why did they give her up? And if they're Purebloods then why did they give her up to Muggles? These were only a few of the questions bugging her that she couldn't wait to ask and she knew the only way to get those answers was to speak to the Guinevere's.

Hermione wasn't so sure after all that she did want to meet her parents. What if they weren't nice people? What if they were completely different from her? And what if they didn't like the girl she had become?

Hermione bit on her nails, very nervous now. The butterflies seemed to be racing around in her stomach and at a very fast rate. Hermione put a hand to her stomach, hoping she wasn't going to be sick. Her first impression was bad enough – she couldn't afford to make a second mistake.

Taking her eyes off the stone floor she was walking on, she glanced up at the back of Draco's head. He was at least two metres in front of her and was walking so fast that Hermione had trouble keeping up. Hermione felt she should resolve things before they got in there; or she'd at least try.

Speeding up a little, she reached out and grabbed him arm.

"Draco, I-"

"Don't touch me!" Draco shot, forcefully pulling his arm out of her grasp. Hermione stared back at him, offended.

"What?" Hermione exclaimed. "Why are you being like this? What have I done!"

Hermione was upset suddenly. She could feel the tears spring in her eyes. Everything that had happened within the last few days she had been held captive at Malfoy Manor seemed to come up, entangling all her emotions. She was being held against her will, stuck in a place she didn't know, surrounded by people she hates and when finally one of them seemed to be warming up to her, he turns around and acts like the total obnoxious, stuck-up prat he is.

Draco set a cold stare on her, eyeing the tears that threatened to spill from her eyes. If there was one thing that Draco hated, it was emotions. Emotions – feelings – were weak. Crying overstepped the border.

A/N – Sorry to cut this so, so short! This has to be the shortest chapter I have EVER submitted and I feel really bad because of it! But I have just moved house and I'm having computer troubles. We just bought several new computers and the old one is in a box God-knows-where. And oh-so-conveniently, ALL of my stories are on there! cries

But I did manage to send this to my dad's computer before hand. There is more though, and I don't want to write more because I like what I wrote but can't really remember it!

So my goal this week is to find my computer and GET THOSE FILES! As soon as I do I'll resubmit this chapter, so don't forget to RE-READ IT when I FINALLY submit it!

Sorry for the inconveniences!

(Oh, by the way, I have a new story coming out soon! I think it's really good (of course!) It's Hermione/Draco and features a Masquerade ball! Look out for it soon!)

Marauders Gal